Sugar-beet harvester.



S. G. BOLLINGER. I

SUGAR em HARVESTER.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT- 4, I9l1- 7 1,283,641 Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MIT

S. G. BOLLINGER.

SUGAR BEET HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED 001.4. 1911.

Ill]

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON e. BOLLINGER, or BAYARD, NEBRASKA.

SUGAR-BEECH HARVESTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON G. BOLLINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bayard, in thecounty of Morrill and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sugar-Beet Harvesters, of which the following is a specification. 4

This invention comprehends generally improvements in that class of inventions known as harrows and diggers and more particularly has reference to a sugar beet harvester.

It is the principal aim and object of this invention to provide a device of the above character designed for lifting the beets and the like from the ground and elevating them in sucha manner as to assure of the removal of the tops from the beets while the latter are being moved beneath the cutting means.

As an equally important object this invention contemplates the provision of a beet harvester wherein improved means are employed to act in conjunction with the lifting or elevating means for facilitating the lifting of the beets and for brushing or cleaning the beets while the latter are being lifted.

More particularly this invention embraces the provision of a device of the above mentioned character wherein the lifting or elev ating means are of novel construction being designed so that the tops of the beets will be engaged, subsequent to the action of the digging means which loosen the beets, and conveyed upwardly into engagement with the cutting means. i

' It is .a more specific object of this in vention to provide a beet harvester wherein the lifting and brushing or cleaning means operate simultaneously with the rear axle on the main supporting frame thus assuring of the effective actuation of the device as an entirety.

Among the other aims and objects of this invention may be recited the provision of a deviceof the character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction sim ple, the cost of production low and the efliciency high.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which for a'clear understanding Specification of Letters Patent; Application filed October 4, 1917. Serial N 0. 194,750.

Patented Nov. 5 1918,

of the invention should be considered in ronnectior with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and wherein "is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactoryembodiment of the invention. It is to be noted in this connection that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle of operation of the various part. v

The invention is clearly illustrated inv the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3- is a longitudinal section of the in-i vention; 7 p I Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation thereof;

Fig. 5- is a transverse section of the invention; j v

F ig. 6 is a detail.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts f Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings, there is provided a main frame 1 preferably of a rectangular configuration the forward portions of the sides thereof converging inwardly toward each other and terminating in spaced parallel portions 3 between which is vertically journaled a caster 4. A front axle 5 is j ournaled in the caster and is turnable therewith while front wheels 6 are carried by the axle. A rear axle 7 is j ournaled adjacent the rear ends of the sides of the main frame while relatively large supporting wheels 8 are carried by the projecting extremitiesv of 'the axle 7 andcooperate with the front inclined and extended portion 15 which con-' tinues from the adjacent lower portion. Bearing blocks 16, are mounted midway the ends of-themembers 1O and receive the rear axle 7, this arrangement serving to pivotally connect the sub-frame to the axle;

lVith a view toward providing the digging means for loosening the beets from the ground diggers 17 are carried at the juncture of the extended portions l t and 15 of the members 10 and converge inwardly toward each other terminating in digging points 18. In order to regulate the depth of the diggers in the ground and to remove the diggers from the ground suitable ad usting means have been provided, in the present instance consisting of a rack bar 19 carried by one side of the main frame. A bell crank lever 20 is pivotally mounted at its point of distortion on the side of the frame through the instrumentality of a suitable fastening device 21 while a yoke 22 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the lever and in turn is operably connected to the diggers. A nianually operable pawl 23 is mounted on the upper or handle portion of the lever 20 and is removably engageable with any of the teeth of the rack bar 19. (if course by swinging the lever the diggers will be accordingly adjusted. In this connection it is also to be observed that in view of the arrangement of the parts described, during the adjustment of the lever the sub-frame is swung about its pivot which incidentally allows for the adjustment of the diggers.

As intimated, improved means have been provided for elevating or lifting the beets after they have been loosened in the ground. In reducing this feature of the invention to practice, a transverse shaft is ournaled in the upper portions 11 of the side members 10 of the sub-frame 9 adj acent. the upper or rear end while sprocket wheels 25 are carried by the shaftadjacent the inner surfaces of the side members 10. Another transverse shaft '28 is journaled between the upper extended portions 14 of the side members while other sprocket wheels 27 are carried thereby and positioned on the inner sides of the members 10. Chains 28 operate about the sprocket wheels and are connected to each other through the medium of transverse slats 29 arranged in uniformly spaced relation throughout the length of the chains, as indicated, and provide what may be termed the upper conveyor. ()ther sprocket wheels 30 are carried by the projecting ends of the upper shaft 24 for a purpose that will pressently appear. Another transverse shaft 31 journaled in the lower portion 12 of each side member adjacent the upper or rear end thereof while spaced pairs of sprocket wheels and 33 are carried adjacent the respective ends thereof for a purpose that will pressently become apparent. Stub shafts 3% are journaled through the lower portions 12 adjacent the lower or front ends thereof and terminate in spaced relation to each other. Spaced sprocket wheels are carried by one of the stub shafts in while other spaced sprocket wheels 36 are carried by the other stub shaft and the sprocket wheels 35 are arranged in alineinent with the sprocket wheels 32 on the shaft 31 while the sprocket wheels 36 are arranged in alinement with the sprocket wheels 33 on the shaft 31. Endless chains 37 and 38 operate about the respective alining sprocket wheels 35 and 32 and the alining sprocket wheels 36 and 33 while each of the chains has connected transversely thereof, slats 39 so as to consequently provide spaced conveyers spaced therebetween and forming a gap 10 through which the beets pass in a manner that will hereinafter become apparent. Other sprocket wheels stl are mounted on the projecting ends of the shaft 31 for a purpose that will presently become apparent.

In order to assure of the lifting of the beets suitable guards l2 are employed being carried by the side members 10 and being relatively flat as at $3 throughout the major portions of their lengths with their respective ends curved outwardly and downwardly as at at. The guards are positioned beneath the lower lays of each of the lower endless chains and serve to support the lower lays of these conveyors adjacent the upper lays thereof and in turn maintain the slats 3 of the upper lays in substantial mesh with the slats on the lower lay of the upper conveyor, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 2-}, and as apparent when the sub-frame is properly adjusted with respect to the ground the tops of the beets will be engaged between these lays in a manner that is indicated in Fig. 6 and conveyed upwardly the body of the beet lying through the gap it). Suitable guides 15 project from the lower or forward ends of the guards to facilitate the engagement of the elevating conveyors with the tops of the beets.

F or the purpose of facilitating the elevating or lifting of the beets and for cleaning and brushing the bodies of the beets suitable means are employed in the present instance consisting of spaced longitudinally extenting shafts 4C6 journaled in spaced parallel relation with each other beneath the ap to in bearing brackets LT which depend from the side members 10. Screw conveyers l8 are carried by the shafts 416 and taper toward the forward ends. Bevel gears 4.9 are carried by the upper or rear ends of the shafts H3 and mesh with other bevel gears carried by the stub shafts 51 jonrnaled in the side members. Sprocket wheels are carried by the outer projecting ends of the stub shafts beneath the sprocket wheels 41 for a purpose that will hereinafter become apparent. By the peculiar construction and positioning of the spiral or screw conveyors 48 it is apparent that as the bodies of the beets. not shown, hang through the gap atO they will be engaged by the screw conveyers which act so as to facilitate the elevating of the beets and at the same time are constructed so as to brush and clean the bodies of the beets to remove dirt, etc., therefrom.

As intimated, suitable cutting means have been provided and in the present instance preferably consist of a substantially V- shaped cutter or knife 53 mounted slightly beneath the guards adjacent the upper curved ends 44 thereof thus'positioning the cutter knife transversely of the gap to so that as the beets are carried upwardly they will be moved beneath the cutter so that the latter will in turn remove the tops from the beets. Of course, it is to be appreciated, that suitable means, not shown, may be employed for accommodating the beets after the tops have been removed therefrom such means forming no part of this invention.

In order to actuate the elevating and the brushing means simultaneously and in timed relation with respect to each other with respect to the actuation of the machine, relatively large sprocket wheels 54: are carried by the rear axle adjacent the opposite ends thereof and to the outer faces of the side members 10 while chains 55 are trained about the sprocket wheels 54: and also respectively about the adjacent sprocket wheels 30, a1 and 52 so that rotary motion will be transmitted from the main axle 7 to consequently actuate the conveyer simultaneously.

The mode of operation of the present invention may be reviewed as follows: 7

Assuming that the parts have been assembled in the mannerdescribed and as indicated in the drawings, being adjusted desirably as indicated in Fig. 2, during the forward motion of the machine the diggers 17 will loosen the beets from the ground while the guides which are positioned in the rear of the diggers and substantially level to the ground, serve to deflect the beets to within the gap 40 so that the tops of'the beets will be engaged between the slats 29, 39 respectively on the upper and lower conveyers. These conveyers of course act to elevate the beets through the gap as soon as motion is imparted thereto through the medium of the chains 55 which operate about the main sprocket wheels 54 upon the axle.

and about the sprocket wheels 30 carried by the transverse shaft 24. The chains 55 inaddition engage the sprocket wheels 41 to rotate the upper shafts 31 and in turn impart motion to the lower conveyer. During this action the screw conveyers 48 which are positioned beneath the gap and rotate simultaneously with the conveyers and in timed relation therewith act to facilitate the lifting of the beets and inasmuch as they contact with the bodies of the beets the latter will be cleaned. Of course as the beets are elevated upwardly they will be moved into engagement with the cutter 53 so that the tops will be removed therefrom. Suitable means, as intimated, may be employed for accommodating the beets.

It is believed that in view of the foregoing description a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is en,- tirely unnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent.

.As many changes could be made inthe above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limited sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to .cover all the. generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language mi ht be said to fall therebetween.

l laving thus fully described theinvention what is claimed as new and desired to be securedby LettersPate-nt is 1. In a sugar beet harvester, frame, digging means carried by the forward end of the frame, cutting means mounted on the frame, cotiperative elevating conveyers mounted on the frame, guarding means for holding the cotiperative elevating conveyers in close relation w-ithrespect to each other sothat the conveyers will engagethe tops of the beets and elevate the beets into engagement with the cutting means to consequently assure of the removal of the to as of the beets, and guide means carried by the forward extremities of the 'uarding means for assuring of the engagement of the conveying means with the beets.

2. In a sugar beet harvester, a frame, dig- .giiig means carried by the forward end of the frame, cutting means carried by the frame, an upper conveyer operably mounted on the frame, spaced lower conveyers. mounted on the frame directly beneath the upper conveyer, and guards carried by the frame beneaththe lower conveyers for bold ing the latter in close relation with the upper conveyers to assure of the engagement of the tops of the beets by the conveyers and the consequent elevation of the beets into engagement with the cutting means whereby to remove the tops from the beets.

3. In a sugar beet harvester, a frame, digging means carried by the forward end of. the frame, cutting means mounted on the frame, an upper conveyer embodying'shafts journaled in the respective ends of the frame, sprocket wheels carriedby the shafts, endless chains operating about the sprocket wheels, transverse slats connecting the chains, lower conveyors mounted in spaced relation with respect to each other and beneath the upper conveyor, said lower conveyors embodying a transverse shaft journaled in one end of the frame, stub-shafts journaled adjacent the opposite ends of the frame, spaced pairs of sprocket wheels carried by the stub shafts and the transverse shaft. endless chains operating about the sprocket wheels and relatively short slats connecting the adjacent pairs of chains, longitudinally arranged guards carried by the frame beneath the lower lays of the lower conveyor for holding the lower lays against the upper lays and for holding the slats of the upper lays of the lower con- Ye vers in substantial meshed ei'igagei'i'ient with the slats of the lower lay of the upper conveyor, guiding means carried by the guards for deflecting the beets into the gap between the lower conveyors in order that the conveyors will engage the tops of the beets to elevate the beets through the gap, and cutting means carried by the frame and positioned trzn'isi'erseiy of tie gap so as to be engaged by the beets whereby to remove the heads from the beets.

-t. In a sugar beet harvester, a frame, digging means carried by the forward end of the frame, cutting means mounted on the frame, an upper conveyor, lower conveyers mounted in spaced relation with respect to each other and beneath the upper conveyor, longitudinally arranged guards carried by the frame beneath the lower conveyors for holding the lower convcyers in close relation with the upper conveyor, guide means carried by the forward end of the guards for facilitating the arranging of the beets between the lower conrcyers so that. the tops of the beets will be engaged between the conreyers for elevating the bees and moving the beets into engagement with the cutting means so as to move the tops of the beets and a pair of longitudinally arranged screw conveycrs operably mounted on, the frame beneath the gap for facilitating the elevating of the beets as they are moved through the gap and for brushing and cleaning the beets.

In a sugar beet harvester a framm digging means carried by the forward end of frame, an endless upper conveyor on the frame and having a plurality of slats thereon, spactd lower endless coni 'cyers mounted in the frame beneath the upper conveyer and having a plurality of slats thereon, guards carried by the sides of the frame for supporting the lower conreyers and for holding the slats of the upper lays thereof in substantial mesh with the slats of the lower lay of the upper conveyer, longitudinal shafts journaled beneath the frame opposed screw conveyors carried by the longitudinal shafts and positioned beneath the gap between the lower conveyers, transversely journaled stub shafts positioned beneath the frame and operatively connected to the limgitiulinally arranged shafts,

sprocket wheels carried by the projecting emls of the, stub shafts, relatively large sprocket wheels carried by the main axle, and endless chains operating about the relatively large sprocket wheels and the sprocket wheels on the projecting ends of thcstub sha and. operably connected to the endless conveyors so that the endless conveyors and the screw conveyors will be actuated simultaneously and in timed relation with respect to each other.

in testimony whereof I atliX my signature.

SIMON G. BOLLIIH'EER.

Copies of this patent may be obtaineiii for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents.

Washington, D. G. 

